Maybe the elite British boarding school that vetted its new nutrition teacher (a spot-on Mia Wasikowska) should have dug a bit further into her background. She has become rather tight with five of her students, and as part of her duties is indoctrinating them on the virtues of eating less. No problem so far, but she then reveals that the ultimate goal is to eat nothing, to become a member of “Club Zero.” She’s fully convinced that this is possible if you just believe. 

What at first seems like a cautionary tale about teen eating disorders and Western overconsumption is more of a satiric take on the batshit crazy stuff people are willing to believe these days.

It’s an oddball examination of cult mentality that blends together insecurity, conformity, and obsession – and of course blind faith. 

The piercing, percussive score is so prevalent it’s almost a character. 

This dry comedy is not for everyone. But the director, Austria’s Jessica Hausner, draws you in to a movie that’s uncomfortable to watch yet hard to turn away from. It’ll stay with you. (110 min)